Stars light up LeBron’s Blackout party

Jay-Z, athletes appear at event

There were high expectations surrounding The Blackout party at The Shrine (not to mention an athlete-heavy guest list), but that's nothing new when LeBron James is involved.

Everywhere James, the party's host, goes suddenly becomes the place to be, and Thursday night, that place was in the South Loop.

Long lines to get in? Check. Athletes towering over club patrons almost everywhere you looked? Check. Scantily clad groupies? Check. Check.

Add in a midnight appearance by James' buddy Jay-Z (who had performed at the United Center that night), fellow rapper Young Jeezy and brief cameos from Derrick Rose of the Bulls and the Bears' newest star, Julius Peppers, and you had the sort of party usually reserved for the Super Bowl or NBA All-Star weekend.

Hip-hop and urban lifestyle Web site Eighty81.com, which sponsored The Blackout along with Hennessy Black, chose Chicago for the party because of its success with events here and because the date matched up with Friday night's Bulls-Cleveland Cavaliers game at the United Center.

"The way we're banged up right now, I'll do whatever I can," Bulls forward Hakim Warrick joked when asked if he would buy James a few drinks to ensure he wasn't in top form the next night. "I might slip him a few shots tonight."

Winter Olympics gold medalist and Chicagoan Shani Davis was one of the first celebs to walk the black carpet and said he planned on going to the Bulls-Cavs game. Like most Chicago basketball fans, the speedskater would love to see James, a free agent this summer, suit up for the Bulls next season.

"There'd be room for another great No. 23," said Davis, who had his gold medal with him. Davis was referencing James' current uniform number, retired by the Bulls in honor of Michael Jordan. James reportedly plans to change to No. 6 next season, wherever he plays.

One member of the media told James his shoes would look good in the Bulls' red and black colors, as he quickly made his way through the black-carpet area around 11:40 p.m. The reigning NBA MVP, sporting a black hat, black jacket and black shades, laughed but didn't comment.